Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Joe Pride is adamant his stable star Ceolwulf will be a big improver on his first-up performance when he tackles Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million TAB Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

Trainer Joe Pride.

That’s not to say there was anything wrong with his close up fourth behind the Chris Waller trio of Fangirl, Lindermann and Via Sistina in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) two weeks ago.

Ceolwulf was beaten 1-1/2 lengths but clocked the fastest last 600m of 32.63 (Punter’s Intelligence) in a race that was a sprint home so it tells Pride he’s on target.

The Warwick Farm trainer is known for his competitive nature, especially when he has a top class horse, and he’s looking forward to taking them on again with the benefit of a run and stepping up to the trip of his Group 1 wins from the spring.

“There’s clearly not that much between them and I would think my horse being a four-year-old is open to a bit more improvement but time will tell,’’ Pride said.

“He’s a dual Group 1 winner over a mile so you’d have to say it’s going to favour him but it probably also favours Chris’s other mare (Via Sistina) too. Probably not Fangirl as much.

“I’d like it if (Via Sistina) wasn’t there but this is what it’s all about having good horses compete against others. I would expect those two to fight out the finish.”

It’s going to be a tactical race with Ceolwulf drawing the outside barrier, and Via Sistina alongside him.

Ahead of the Apollo, Pride warned Ceolwulf had never been a strong first-up performer and would improve on whatever he produced in that race.

He said he’s seen the improvement he wanted to see over the past two weeks and expects he’ll continue to progress as the preparation, aimed at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, continues.

“We should never assume too much about other people’s horses but my horse went there needing a run first-up to get him to a point where he is going to be winning races,’’ he said.

“If they’re not good first-uppers it’s difficult for them but I thought he ran a great race.

“I don’t think he could have done much more. The sectionals and the way he closed was great and you just know he is a horse who improves a lot with racing under his belt."

What happens after the Verry Elleegant isn’t set in stone as it’ll be six weeks until the Queen Elizabeth and Pride said he’d like to not go into that race with only the three runs under his belt.

He’ll race at Rosehill on March 22, with potentially a trial in between, in either the George Ryder (1500m) or Ranvet Stakes (2000m) but he’s considering an extra run following that day with the Doncaster Mile a possibility.

Ceolwulf, the Epsom Handicap winner, was handed 57.5kg in the Doncaster when weights were released this week.

Imported mare Sounds Of Heaven will return in the Group 2 $300,000 Proven Thoroughbreds Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) having pleased Pride in her latest barrier trial.

Ceolwulf runs fourth in the Apollo Stakes

The five-year-old notched her first local win back on October 26 and is on a quest to add some Australian black type to her Group 1 placing in the UK.

“She’s a nice mare with a bit of quality about her,’’ he said.

“She’s probably going to be better suited when she gets up to a mile but she will run well at 1400m.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Randwick